I've been working at Caritas for a little over a week, its nice for a change of pace from school. Even if it is a bit more dangerous than my math or English homework.
"Hey sweetheart, can I get my fries!"
My eyes close for a moment and I sigh, turning back around to the Gacknar demon sitting at the corner table. "Yes, they're coming right up." I feel proud that I've learned to curb my stutter somewhat when I'm here, last thing I want them to know is that I'm nervous at all around them.
I quickly take the fries - that are topped with something I know isn't a 'normal' condiment - and bring it over. "Sorry, we're busy tonight." I smile and turn away to go see whatelse Lorne needs of me when I yelp at a set of claws pinching me. I keep quiet and hurry off to the edge of the bar, looking around for Lorne when I hear a loud sound behind me at the front door.
My eyes go wide when I see a crumpled leather heap at the bottom of the stairs that lead into the bar. Dropping my order pad I hurry over. "A-are you okay?" I kneel down and look around for help, watching as demons didn't do anything but look and sneer at me. "Excuse me?" I look down at the body and try to turn it over, a sharp gasp escapes my lips when I reconize the face. "Angel...oh gosh." He's bruised and bloody...and he said was worried about me.
With gentle hands, I use the damp towel in my hand and try to wipe the blood and grit from his face. "C-can you hear me? A-Angel?" I reached down and reached out to check for a pulse when I felt a hand grasp my wrist hard, causing me to gasp out. "Oh..." I saw his eyes flutter to look at me, my stomach still knotted with worry.
There's a pounding in my head and instinct tells me it's a heartbeat - close, too close - not an ache in my head or some other body part in the wrong place. It's a girl, I suck in a deep breath trying to catch their scent. Can't be Cordy, and I smell...demons and alcohol and greasy fries...
"Tara?" I say in confusion, grabbing her wrist before she can feel my lack of pulse. I keep my eyes closed for second still not knowing if this is real or some dream. Why the hell am I in Caritas? My eyes flutter, trying to get her voice to focus into a face. The pounding I hear falls in line with the beat beneath my fingers and yeah that was definitely a heartbeat before.
"Tara," I mumble again, rolling over, feeling what might be some broken ribs and some definitely deep gashes as I try to sit up. Right. Fighting, park, demons with big scythe-y things for teeth. "Mmh," I groan, eyes finally blinking open. "Hey," I say, seeing her worried face. Trying to give her a smile, but instead I wince. "You're here..." I'm surprised, and I don't know why since she's supposed to be working here, so why wouldn't she be here, and I really need to stop rambling in my head or there's going to be more blood on the floor than in me. Which doesn't necessarily matter, but she might be more inclined to take me to a hospital is she gets too worried.
"Umm, don't suppose you get off soon? I, uhh, ohh," I groan, slumping back against the stairs as a sharp pain shoots up my chest. "I could use a ride home," I grit out, looking up at her as I sit there doubled over, trying to hold in the pain. "My car... Don't think I should really drive," I try to joke with a grimace.
He starts talking and I lean closer to listen, my heart slamming in my chest with worry at the blood that I could see and how pale he looked to me.
I take a deep breath and look down at my watch, seeing that it was close enough for my time to go home that I could take him. Wait...did he say drive? Oh lord.
"Yeah, I'll...I c-can take you." I pull my apron off and move back down to him, wrapping my arm around him and struggling to pull him to his feet. He was almost dead weight to me and I was glad he had a car to take him to his place; otherwise I didn't think we'd make it.
Nervously, I chew my lip as we stumble out onto the street. "W-where are you p-parked?" And should I tell him now or later that even though I know how to drive, I don't actively do it. I just hope I don't crash.
"Angel?" I move my hand and feel the night air chill my skin from his blood. "Do you need to go to the h-hospital? I can call 911..."
It all seems a blur as Tara tosses her apron aside and starts to help me up. I'm a little too busy holding in several cries of pain to be of much help to her, but we do manage it somehow. I really don't know how we make it back up the stairs with the gash on my leg throbbing the way it is. That venom must be making me weak or something because normally I can get through this stuff no problem. Or with less of a problem.
"Down the street," I suck in a breath and try not to lean on her so hard. "Do you- Do you think you could drive it over here? I'm- You're not going to be able to help me that far..." I trail off trying to suck in more unneeded air.
"No," I say forcefully, and then, "No," more calmly the second time. "I'll be fine if I can get home." the wooziness is coming back, and I can only hope that I can stave off passing out again before she can get back with the car.
"This happens-" I have to pause to bite my lip to keep from growling in pain, "This happens all the time. All the time in my line of work," I try to tell her with another grimace-like smile.
Fumbling around in my jacket for the keys, I try to ignore the cool slip of blood sliding down my back. "I'll just...lean on this sturdy wall here..." I tell her, looking at the brick like it's a real life saver. "It's a big black car. Old. You can't miss it." I describe to her, brain not really coming up with many helpful details at the moment. "I'll just...wait here." I tell her, the world feeling fuzzy around the edges again.
Down the street...Of course, it was down the street. At least it wasn't further. I nod when he tells me that he didn't want to go to the hospital and I respect his wishes. Biting my lip I give him a worried look; unsure what I'm more worried about - the driving or how he looks.
The keys are in my hand - sticky with blood - and he's leaning against the wall before I know it. "Okay..." I swallow thickly and help him lean, making sure he's going to be okay for the moment before I turn and take off running.
My heart pounds in my chest as my eyes scan the curb for a black classic car. I was glad he discribed it how he did, I don't know much about cars and I'm doubtful that I could tell an Impala from a VW Bug.
I catch sight of the car and I fumble with the keys, panting softly as I unlock the door and slip inside. I feel lost in the seat as I slip in, I look around and get myself settled in the seat before turning the engine on.
Everything blacked out on me as I slowly pulled the car out of the spot; going on autopilot as I drove the car back to the bar to find Angel slumped over the wall. He wasn't moving and for a moment I worried he was dead. He coughed hard, his body shaking before slumping back against the wall.
"Oh god," I whispered, my heart speeding up again as I bolted out of the car and over to him. "I-I'm back...C'mon, let's...you need to tell me where you live. S-staying awake is a good thing."
I slump hard against the brick as she fairly flies down the street, hair streaking behind her. She really has nice hair, I think as my eyelids start to feel heavy and I let them close.
Starting with a cough when headlights flicker across me, I jolt up - or try to - not realizing that I passed out for a second there. Damn. This stuff must be bad. Wish Wes and Cordy were around. Who knows if Tara's going to be able to handle this. I know I'm not going to be much use. I can hear her quick breath and her pounding heart, so loud, coming back to me. I nod slightly at her words, leaning heavily against her, but really trying not to.
"Thanks," I tell her with a gasp, another sharp pain shooting up my leg as she helps me into the wide front seat. It seems like hours before she gets into the seat next to me when I know it must be only seconds the way she's rushing around for me.
"The old...Hyperion hotel," I tell her, "it's not... far," I add, giving her the address, slowly. The gash on my chest is wreaking havoc; must have got a lung or something. Should be okay though, if I can just lie down and get some blood. Damn, she can't stay. She doesn't know. I can't just drink blood in front of her. God, ...ohh. Kind of the least of my worries, I think. Staying awake. Staying awake is good, she said.
"Back entrance," I mumble, "'S close to the elevators," I add, trying to force myself to stay awake for Tara's sake at least. "Just need help with a couple other things. You...You won't have to...s-stay long," I slur, hand trying to hold the blood on my chest in.
"Looks...worse. Than... It is." Staying awake, Angel. She said staying awake is good.
He's finally in the car and I sigh heavily, putting the car into drive and following his directions, not having much of an idea where I was going. The Hyperion Hotel...I remember seeing a big building and admiring the history when I first got here; that had to be it. I hope it was.
"I'll s-stay as long as you need." I wasn't leaving until I knew he was okay and by the looks of it, I'll be there for a while. He doesn't look good and he just seems to be getting worse by the moment.
That knot of worry starts in my stomach again as I make my way around to the back, quietly muttering under my breath that I didn't have my purse with me. I had herbs that might have helped. I'll have to improvise, mamma taught me that.
When I shut the car off I looked over at him, noticing him still again. "Angel, c'mon. W-we're here." I get out of my side and go over to his, pulling the door open and fisting his leather jacket in my hands to pull him out roughly. I'm not very strong at all, but I somehow manage to get him past the small garden and to the back door; nudging it with my foot I get us inside; only to stumble back with Angel - half concious - falling over me.
But we're here, she says, and she's hauling me out of the car. I try to help, but my strength is fading fast and she's going to be carrying a heap of dead weight very soon.
"'s open," I tell her, thankful that we're back at my place and I don't have to explain about an invitation and get this whole vampire thing started before we can even get inside. Gonna have to tell her soon though, the rate I'm losing blood. The wounds aren't closing, I realize hazily. Damn it. I shudder and slump against her, the blood loss really starting to get to me. It's several moments before I realize she's gotten us inside and I've pinned her back to the door from all of my strength giving out and my weight slumping against her.
Her heartbeat is like a drum and the vibrations fill my chest along with the intoxicating scent of her, of human, of life, of-
"Tara. You alright?" I mumble trying to dredge up some more strength to keep my weight off of her. "The wounds...they have to be cleaned...some kind of poison," I breath heavily on her, "making me weak..." I wheeze. "Can't stop the bleeding... Need to..." Stop looking at her neck, right now, Angel. Right now!
Lurching, I stumble backwards, thankfully landing on the stairs - or not so thankfully as my back will be saying later - I try to sit up, but that's sooo not happening. "Bathroom, Tara." I swallow hard. Cleaning first, blood later. The blood will only seep out again. "Around the corner." I'm drilling holes in her, trying to think about telling her what needs to be done, not what I want to do. "Water. Towels." I'm really, really trying to stay conscious here.
My head is throbbing, my clothes are wet with his blood and I have this sinking feeling that I'm in way over my head. I can do it...I have to believe that. He won't let me call the hospital and I don't have anyone I can call to help me.
Angel starts whispering, asking me if I'm okay and giving me instructions. I swallow and nod, running my fingers roughly through my hair. "Yeah, I'm...I'm okay." I look down at him on the stairs and strain to hear what he's saying and once I know where the bathroom is I hurry in, grabbing some towels and turning on the hot water in the sink.
I pick up the soaked hot towels and hurry back over to him, kneeling at the stairs nedt to him, I reach down to pull at his jacket. "I need to g-get your shirt and coat off. I h-have to see the wounds." Nervously licking my lips, I struggle and manage to get his shirt open, a soft gasp escapes my lips as I look down at him. I can't help but wonder - and worry - how he's still awake after losing so much blood.
Placing the soaked towels on him, I wince when he shudders from the heat. "S-sorry." I try to wipe the blood away but it seems to come back before I can react. "I n-need...A kitchen, I c-can make s-something to help." I reach out and touch his face, biting my lip and becoming even more worried at how pale and cold he is. "You need a hot s-shower too." It'll get the blood away and I'll be able to see how bad the damage is.
She looks shaky, and I want to tell her she's doing great, she's been a big help, but she should go...but I can't. I can only blink at her, wondering if she's going to make it. Most people aren't big fans of blood. I'm wondering if I've only dragged another person down into this muck, this hero business, to flounder and be consummed by it.
We don't have time for thoughts like that.
Tentative fingers are tugging at my jacket, pulling away the shreds of my shirt before I know it, and the flash of pleasure at the heat and water ripples through me. I can feel it start to help, can feel the venom clinging to the damp cloth and away from my skin. The blood still keeps coming though.
I look at her confused when she asks for a kitchen. Her hands though, so warm and small touching my face, I want to let go, pass out, drain her, I don't know which but I have to get her away and we have to stop the blood so I can drink. Need to feed.
"Kitchen, that way," I point, eyes desperately looking at hers. "Can't walk yet. You go, I'll-" I'll pass out. "I'll try to...stop the blood." Pressing the towel harder against the gape in my chest that should be halfway closed by now, I give her a nod, biting down on a wince.
I head over to the kitchen quickly, unable to take in the largness of it for the moment and I head quickly over to what I think is the pantry. "Good," I sigh, pulling it open to find it filled with spices and herbs, there are even a few items on the shelf only a witch or someone versed in magic would have in their home.
Time blurs again and I pull things out and search for a bowl, throwing together some herbs and olive oil I manage to get a paste going in the amount of time that would make my mother proud. I take the bowl and head out of the kitchen, pausing to gasp at my appearence and realizing I look like an extra for Carrie.
"Stay w-with me." I kneel next to him and pull the towel off, dipping a bay leaf in the oil before holding it up to his mouth. "Doesn't taste so well, but it'll help with the poison." I slip it over his tongue before pulling the rest of the towels off and going to quiet work to cover his still bleeding wounds.
How is he not dead from all this blood?
My heart pounds in my chest and I look up at him once his chest is covered with the now drying paste. "W-where is the nearest shower?" I pull his jacket off the rest of the way and wrap his arm around mine, trying to lift him to his feet.
I don't know how long Tara's gone, but I'm in and out, hand falling from the towel already soaked in blood. I stay very still, drifting on the edge of consciousness until I hear her heartbeat return. At least the craving faded for a moment.
I open my mouth for her and swallow what she gives me, lying there limp in front of her like a doll. She doesn't seem like she's falling apart. What makes this girl so strong?
Her hands are sure and soft as they spread some heady smelling paste over my skin, sealing up the wounds, pausing the river of blood. I close my eyes, inhaling the smell, not really trying to figure out what it is, but focusing on the feel of her small fingers, the steady, light pressure as she works the mixture over the wounds.
"My room," I tell her softly, the paste on my chest making the wounds tingle and tighten. "Up the stairs, 217," the number slipping off my tongue easily from so many years of torment over that room, this hotel.
"Give me a second, I'll be able to move better." I look at her and she nods before trying to tug me up. It's not long before we're trying to hobble up the stairs together. Me, weak as a kitten, but at least not losing so much more blood.
"There's other wounds on my back, my leg,' I tell her, arm flapping out to push open the door to my suite and stumble in with her. "Shower's through there," I mumble, feeling woozy from moving already. "Thank you..." I whisper with a rasp.
We make it up to his room, stumbling and dragging our way. I know that I'm going to be covered in bruises from all of this, but I'll worry about that when I know Angel is okay.
I slowly sit him on a chair and hurry into the bathroom, turning on the water as hot as I can stand it and knowing that Angel's body is too cold to notice the temperture either way. I search the closet for towels and pile them near the shower, searching the drawer for something to cut his clothes from him as best I can.
There's a thud in the other room and I rush back in to see Angel slumped down in the chair. "Come on," I urge him, reaching over to boldly start pulling at his belt, realizing now wasn't the time to blush or be modist when he was this hurt.
His pants were undone and soon I was pulling them off along with his shoes and socks before reaching up to pull his shirt the rest of the way off. "T-try to help me." I give him a small smile and start pulling him up, seeing the steam from the shower float into the room. "We're almost there."
Tara'a so gentle even though she's struggling and sweating and trying to drag my battered body around. The nearest chair proves to be the best spot for us both and I suck in several long breaths trying to center myself.
I hear the shower running vaguely in the background, and the next time I hear something, Tara's in front of me working my belt loose while I slump in the chair. My hands go to help her so she doesn't have to undress a strange man in a strange place, because this has got to be weird enough as it is. I'm not much help, but I do lift my hips for her as she tugs off my pants, and I manage to toe off my shoes for her.
Light fingers shove the tatters of my shirt aside, and she's got her hands in mine, reassuring smile in place. I'm the one who should be reassuring. The wound on my chest at least is no longer bleeding, and I can feel the poison fading bit by bit. I manage not to lean on her so much even though the pain is starting to make my head spin and my demon crow.
There's a flood of steam once she gets me to the shower and I slump again in the corner of it, trying to hold myself up so she doesn't have to get drenched. The water swirls dark pink and then lighter as my blood slips down the drain. A shudder shakes through me from the heat, and I nearly slip, but catch myself just in time. Which is when I notice my boxers are soaked and clinging, Tara having been polite enough to leave them on me. The water keeps coming warm and wet, and I shudder again this time a combination of pleasure and blood loss.
Got to get her out of here so I can feed soon.
The poison washes away much quicker this way and in combination with her poultice, I start to feel like I might be able to focus my eyes at least in the near future, if not possibly walk on my own two feet before the night is over. If I can just get some blood...and the rest of these wounds to close up.
I give Angel some time in the shower before I see him swaying again and without giving it much pause I pull my over shirt off, take off my shoes and slip into the shower with him still dressed in my skirt and tank top.
"I'm here," I whisper, placing my arm on his shoulder as I blindly reach over and pull a small towel from the counter and soak it with the hot water. Gently I start to wipe the mixture I put on before, feeling it drip past my legs before I look up at his face. "Feeling better at all?"
The blush comes to my face when I realize what the water has done and I suddenly feel naked and exposed in front of him. Doing my best I push those thoughts aside and go back to work on him, cleaning his wounds on his chest, back and legs.
I quickly stand up, pushing my soaking wet hair from my face and look up at him again. "Do you want to stay in the hot water a bit longer? I c-can stay or help you into the other room to get dry and warm..."
My knees are wanting to buckle, the longer I stand there, but the poison isn't gone yet. Need to stay in here just a little longer, Angel. Just stay awake a little longer. I sway, and there's Tara. I'd almost forgotten she was there. I smile at her softly. My knight in shining armor.
I nod, "A little, your...stuff. It helped." I watch as if in a dream as the water streaks her clothing, her tank top molding to her breasts, her waist, making her look naked- I look away from her sharply. Good thing I don't think I have enough blood to really react to that. I start a little when her hands start roaming over my chest and I have to hold back a moan. Not the time, Angel. You can't anyway. The curse, I remind myself. She's only a girl.
I up at the ceiling hard as she moves to clean the wound on my leg. Don't need any images of her kneeling. Really. It's also really unfortunate that I'm getting more cognizant, the more the water washes over us both.
I swallow hard and look at her face - nowhere else, and especially not her neck - when she starts talking again. "I think most of the poison's gone. I should get out. " Man, blood loss is never good. By now, even if I were back to full strength, I've lost so much blood, there's just not much to keep me animated, so I have to continue relying on Tara for help, or start crawling. And Tara doesn't seem like the type to just leave while a guy's crawling.
"Hey sweetheart, can I get my fries!"
My eyes close for a moment and I sigh, turning back around to the Gacknar demon sitting at the corner table. "Yes, they're coming right up." I feel proud that I've learned to curb my stutter somewhat when I'm here, last thing I want them to know is that I'm nervous at all around them.
I quickly take the fries - that are topped with something I know isn't a 'normal' condiment - and bring it over. "Sorry, we're busy tonight." I smile and turn away to go see whatelse Lorne needs of me when I yelp at a set of claws pinching me. I keep quiet and hurry off to the edge of the bar, looking around for Lorne when I hear a loud sound behind me at the front door.
My eyes go wide when I see a crumpled leather heap at the bottom of the stairs that lead into the bar. Dropping my order pad I hurry over. "A-are you okay?" I kneel down and look around for help, watching as demons didn't do anything but look and sneer at me. "Excuse me?" I look down at the body and try to turn it over, a sharp gasp escapes my lips when I reconize the face. "Angel...oh gosh." He's bruised and bloody...and he said was worried about me.
With gentle hands, I use the damp towel in my hand and try to wipe the blood and grit from his face. "C-can you hear me? A-Angel?" I reached down and reached out to check for a pulse when I felt a hand grasp my wrist hard, causing me to gasp out. "Oh..." I saw his eyes flutter to look at me, my stomach still knotted with worry.
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"Tara?" I say in confusion, grabbing her wrist before she can feel my lack of pulse. I keep my eyes closed for second still not knowing if this is real or some dream. Why the hell am I in Caritas? My eyes flutter, trying to get her voice to focus into a face. The pounding I hear falls in line with the beat beneath my fingers and yeah that was definitely a heartbeat before.
"Tara," I mumble again, rolling over, feeling what might be some broken ribs and some definitely deep gashes as I try to sit up. Right. Fighting, park, demons with big scythe-y things for teeth. "Mmh," I groan, eyes finally blinking open. "Hey," I say, seeing her worried face. Trying to give her a smile, but instead I wince. "You're here..." I'm surprised, and I don't know why since she's supposed to be working here, so why wouldn't she be here, and I really need to stop rambling in my head or there's going to be more blood on the floor than in me. Which doesn't necessarily matter, but she might be more inclined to take me to a hospital is she gets too worried.
"Umm, don't suppose you get off soon? I, uhh, ohh," I groan, slumping back against the stairs as a sharp pain shoots up my chest. "I could use a ride home," I grit out, looking up at her as I sit there doubled over, trying to hold in the pain. "My car... Don't think I should really drive," I try to joke with a grimace.
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I take a deep breath and look down at my watch, seeing that it was close enough for my time to go home that I could take him. Wait...did he say drive? Oh lord.
"Yeah, I'll...I c-can take you." I pull my apron off and move back down to him, wrapping my arm around him and struggling to pull him to his feet. He was almost dead weight to me and I was glad he had a car to take him to his place; otherwise I didn't think we'd make it.
Nervously, I chew my lip as we stumble out onto the street. "W-where are you p-parked?" And should I tell him now or later that even though I know how to drive, I don't actively do it. I just hope I don't crash.
"Angel?" I move my hand and feel the night air chill my skin from his blood. "Do you need to go to the h-hospital? I can call 911..."
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"Down the street," I suck in a breath and try not to lean on her so hard. "Do you- Do you think you could drive it over here? I'm- You're not going to be able to help me that far..." I trail off trying to suck in more unneeded air.
"No," I say forcefully, and then, "No," more calmly the second time. "I'll be fine if I can get home." the wooziness is coming back, and I can only hope that I can stave off passing out again before she can get back with the car.
"This happens-" I have to pause to bite my lip to keep from growling in pain, "This happens all the time. All the time in my line of work," I try to tell her with another grimace-like smile.
Fumbling around in my jacket for the keys, I try to ignore the cool slip of blood sliding down my back. "I'll just...lean on this sturdy wall here..." I tell her, looking at the brick like it's a real life saver. "It's a big black car. Old. You can't miss it." I describe to her, brain not really coming up with many helpful details at the moment. "I'll just...wait here." I tell her, the world feeling fuzzy around the edges again.
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The keys are in my hand - sticky with blood - and he's leaning against the wall before I know it. "Okay..." I swallow thickly and help him lean, making sure he's going to be okay for the moment before I turn and take off running.
My heart pounds in my chest as my eyes scan the curb for a black classic car. I was glad he discribed it how he did, I don't know much about cars and I'm doubtful that I could tell an Impala from a VW Bug.
I catch sight of the car and I fumble with the keys, panting softly as I unlock the door and slip inside. I feel lost in the seat as I slip in, I look around and get myself settled in the seat before turning the engine on.
Everything blacked out on me as I slowly pulled the car out of the spot; going on autopilot as I drove the car back to the bar to find Angel slumped over the wall. He wasn't moving and for a moment I worried he was dead. He coughed hard, his body shaking before slumping back against the wall.
"Oh god," I whispered, my heart speeding up again as I bolted out of the car and over to him. "I-I'm back...C'mon, let's...you need to tell me where you live. S-staying awake is a good thing."
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Starting with a cough when headlights flicker across me, I jolt up - or try to - not realizing that I passed out for a second there. Damn. This stuff must be bad. Wish Wes and Cordy were around. Who knows if Tara's going to be able to handle this. I know I'm not going to be much use. I can hear her quick breath and her pounding heart, so loud, coming back to me. I nod slightly at her words, leaning heavily against her, but really trying not to.
"Thanks," I tell her with a gasp, another sharp pain shooting up my leg as she helps me into the wide front seat. It seems like hours before she gets into the seat next to me when I know it must be only seconds the way she's rushing around for me.
"The old...Hyperion hotel," I tell her, "it's not... far," I add, giving her the address, slowly. The gash on my chest is wreaking havoc; must have got a lung or something. Should be okay though, if I can just lie down and get some blood. Damn, she can't stay. She doesn't know. I can't just drink blood in front of her. God, ...ohh. Kind of the least of my worries, I think. Staying awake. Staying awake is good, she said.
"Back entrance," I mumble, "'S close to the elevators," I add, trying to force myself to stay awake for Tara's sake at least. "Just need help with a couple other things. You...You won't have to...s-stay long," I slur, hand trying to hold the blood on my chest in.
"Looks...worse. Than... It is." Staying awake, Angel. She said staying awake is good.
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"I'll s-stay as long as you need." I wasn't leaving until I knew he was okay and by the looks of it, I'll be there for a while. He doesn't look good and he just seems to be getting worse by the moment.
That knot of worry starts in my stomach again as I make my way around to the back, quietly muttering under my breath that I didn't have my purse with me. I had herbs that might have helped. I'll have to improvise, mamma taught me that.
When I shut the car off I looked over at him, noticing him still again. "Angel, c'mon. W-we're here." I get out of my side and go over to his, pulling the door open and fisting his leather jacket in my hands to pull him out roughly. I'm not very strong at all, but I somehow manage to get him past the small garden and to the back door; nudging it with my foot I get us inside; only to stumble back with Angel - half concious - falling over me.
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But we're here, she says, and she's hauling me out of the car. I try to help, but my strength is fading fast and she's going to be carrying a heap of dead weight very soon.
"'s open," I tell her, thankful that we're back at my place and I don't have to explain about an invitation and get this whole vampire thing started before we can even get inside. Gonna have to tell her soon though, the rate I'm losing blood. The wounds aren't closing, I realize hazily. Damn it. I shudder and slump against her, the blood loss really starting to get to me. It's several moments before I realize she's gotten us inside and I've pinned her back to the door from all of my strength giving out and my weight slumping against her.
Her heartbeat is like a drum and the vibrations fill my chest along with the intoxicating scent of her, of human, of life, of-
"Tara. You alright?" I mumble trying to dredge up some more strength to keep my weight off of her. "The wounds...they have to be cleaned...some kind of poison," I breath heavily on her, "making me weak..." I wheeze. "Can't stop the bleeding... Need to..." Stop looking at her neck, right now, Angel. Right now!
Lurching, I stumble backwards, thankfully landing on the stairs - or not so thankfully as my back will be saying later - I try to sit up, but that's sooo not happening. "Bathroom, Tara." I swallow hard. Cleaning first, blood later. The blood will only seep out again. "Around the corner." I'm drilling holes in her, trying to think about telling her what needs to be done, not what I want to do. "Water. Towels." I'm really, really trying to stay conscious here.
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Angel starts whispering, asking me if I'm okay and giving me instructions. I swallow and nod, running my fingers roughly through my hair. "Yeah, I'm...I'm okay." I look down at him on the stairs and strain to hear what he's saying and once I know where the bathroom is I hurry in, grabbing some towels and turning on the hot water in the sink.
I pick up the soaked hot towels and hurry back over to him, kneeling at the stairs nedt to him, I reach down to pull at his jacket. "I need to g-get your shirt and coat off. I h-have to see the wounds." Nervously licking my lips, I struggle and manage to get his shirt open, a soft gasp escapes my lips as I look down at him. I can't help but wonder - and worry - how he's still awake after losing so much blood.
Placing the soaked towels on him, I wince when he shudders from the heat. "S-sorry." I try to wipe the blood away but it seems to come back before I can react. "I n-need...A kitchen, I c-can make s-something to help." I reach out and touch his face, biting my lip and becoming even more worried at how pale and cold he is. "You need a hot s-shower too." It'll get the blood away and I'll be able to see how bad the damage is.
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We don't have time for thoughts like that.
Tentative fingers are tugging at my jacket, pulling away the shreds of my shirt before I know it, and the flash of pleasure at the heat and water ripples through me. I can feel it start to help, can feel the venom clinging to the damp cloth and away from my skin. The blood still keeps coming though.
I look at her confused when she asks for a kitchen. Her hands though, so warm and small touching my face, I want to let go, pass out, drain her, I don't know which but I have to get her away and we have to stop the blood so I can drink. Need to feed.
"Kitchen, that way," I point, eyes desperately looking at hers. "Can't walk yet. You go, I'll-" I'll pass out. "I'll try to...stop the blood." Pressing the towel harder against the gape in my chest that should be halfway closed by now, I give her a nod, biting down on a wince.
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Time blurs again and I pull things out and search for a bowl, throwing together some herbs and olive oil I manage to get a paste going in the amount of time that would make my mother proud. I take the bowl and head out of the kitchen, pausing to gasp at my appearence and realizing I look like an extra for Carrie.
"Stay w-with me." I kneel next to him and pull the towel off, dipping a bay leaf in the oil before holding it up to his mouth. "Doesn't taste so well, but it'll help with the poison." I slip it over his tongue before pulling the rest of the towels off and going to quiet work to cover his still bleeding wounds.
How is he not dead from all this blood?
My heart pounds in my chest and I look up at him once his chest is covered with the now drying paste. "W-where is the nearest shower?" I pull his jacket off the rest of the way and wrap his arm around mine, trying to lift him to his feet.
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I open my mouth for her and swallow what she gives me, lying there limp in front of her like a doll. She doesn't seem like she's falling apart. What makes this girl so strong?
Her hands are sure and soft as they spread some heady smelling paste over my skin, sealing up the wounds, pausing the river of blood. I close my eyes, inhaling the smell, not really trying to figure out what it is, but focusing on the feel of her small fingers, the steady, light pressure as she works the mixture over the wounds.
"My room," I tell her softly, the paste on my chest making the wounds tingle and tighten. "Up the stairs, 217," the number slipping off my tongue easily from so many years of torment over that room, this hotel.
"Give me a second, I'll be able to move better." I look at her and she nods before trying to tug me up. It's not long before we're trying to hobble up the stairs together. Me, weak as a kitten, but at least not losing so much more blood.
"There's other wounds on my back, my leg,' I tell her, arm flapping out to push open the door to my suite and stumble in with her. "Shower's through there," I mumble, feeling woozy from moving already. "Thank you..." I whisper with a rasp.
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I slowly sit him on a chair and hurry into the bathroom, turning on the water as hot as I can stand it and knowing that Angel's body is too cold to notice the temperture either way. I search the closet for towels and pile them near the shower, searching the drawer for something to cut his clothes from him as best I can.
There's a thud in the other room and I rush back in to see Angel slumped down in the chair. "Come on," I urge him, reaching over to boldly start pulling at his belt, realizing now wasn't the time to blush or be modist when he was this hurt.
His pants were undone and soon I was pulling them off along with his shoes and socks before reaching up to pull his shirt the rest of the way off. "T-try to help me." I give him a small smile and start pulling him up, seeing the steam from the shower float into the room. "We're almost there."
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I hear the shower running vaguely in the background, and the next time I hear something, Tara's in front of me working my belt loose while I slump in the chair. My hands go to help her so she doesn't have to undress a strange man in a strange place, because this has got to be weird enough as it is. I'm not much help, but I do lift my hips for her as she tugs off my pants, and I manage to toe off my shoes for her.
Light fingers shove the tatters of my shirt aside, and she's got her hands in mine, reassuring smile in place. I'm the one who should be reassuring. The wound on my chest at least is no longer bleeding, and I can feel the poison fading bit by bit. I manage not to lean on her so much even though the pain is starting to make my head spin and my demon crow.
There's a flood of steam once she gets me to the shower and I slump again in the corner of it, trying to hold myself up so she doesn't have to get drenched. The water swirls dark pink and then lighter as my blood slips down the drain. A shudder shakes through me from the heat, and I nearly slip, but catch myself just in time. Which is when I notice my boxers are soaked and clinging, Tara having been polite enough to leave them on me. The water keeps coming warm and wet, and I shudder again this time a combination of pleasure and blood loss.
Got to get her out of here so I can feed soon.
The poison washes away much quicker this way and in combination with her poultice, I start to feel like I might be able to focus my eyes at least in the near future, if not possibly walk on my own two feet before the night is over. If I can just get some blood...and the rest of these wounds to close up.
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"I'm here," I whisper, placing my arm on his shoulder as I blindly reach over and pull a small towel from the counter and soak it with the hot water. Gently I start to wipe the mixture I put on before, feeling it drip past my legs before I look up at his face. "Feeling better at all?"
The blush comes to my face when I realize what the water has done and I suddenly feel naked and exposed in front of him. Doing my best I push those thoughts aside and go back to work on him, cleaning his wounds on his chest, back and legs.
I quickly stand up, pushing my soaking wet hair from my face and look up at him again. "Do you want to stay in the hot water a bit longer? I c-can stay or help you into the other room to get dry and warm..."
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I nod, "A little, your...stuff. It helped." I watch as if in a dream as the water streaks her clothing, her tank top molding to her breasts, her waist, making her look naked- I look away from her sharply. Good thing I don't think I have enough blood to really react to that. I start a little when her hands start roaming over my chest and I have to hold back a moan. Not the time, Angel. You can't anyway. The curse, I remind myself. She's only a girl.
I up at the ceiling hard as she moves to clean the wound on my leg. Don't need any images of her kneeling. Really. It's also really unfortunate that I'm getting more cognizant, the more the water washes over us both.
I swallow hard and look at her face - nowhere else, and especially not her neck - when she starts talking again. "I think most of the poison's gone. I should get out. " Man, blood loss is never good. By now, even if I were back to full strength, I've lost so much blood, there's just not much to keep me animated, so I have to continue relying on Tara for help, or start crawling. And Tara doesn't seem like the type to just leave while a guy's crawling.
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